Barcelona put one foot in the last 16 of the Copa del Rey with a 3-0 win over Murcia, with Jose Arnaiz enjoying a memorable debut.
Jose Arnaiz scored a superb debut goal as Barcelona cruised to a 3-0 first-leg win over Murcia in the last 32 of the Copa del Rey.
The 22-year-old, drafted into the side after impressing for Gerard Lopez's B team, fired home the goal of the game after Paco Alcacer and Gerard Deulofeu had put the holders in control at the Nueva Condomina.
Ernesto Valverde named Arnaiz, Carles Alena and Thomas Vermaelen – making his first start of the season – in a much-changed line-up, as Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, Luis Suarez, Paulinho and Marc-Andre ter Stegen were all left out.
Murcia performed well for much of the first half, looking a threat on the break, but Alcacer's well-taken header saw Barca take control just before half-time.
Deulofeu added a second shortly after the break before Arnaiz netted the third to put the LaLiga leaders in command of the tie ahead of the return leg at Camp Nou on November 29.
The Catalans now turn their attention to a league trip to Valverde's old club Athletic Bilbao on Saturday, for which Arnaiz could well be in contention following an excellent display.
11' CHANCE! Murcia players miss chances
CHANCE! Mascherano is penalised for a foul inside his own half. It's a little soft, but Murcia nearly make the most of the resulting free-kick and it's headed just wide of the far post! What a start that would have been for the minnows!
28' CHANCE! Zorrilla's shot over the crossbar
CHANCE! Murcia get away with real pace down the left through Nadjib, who beats Vermaelen - with the aid of a slightly lucky deflection and cuts the ball back to a team-mate in the middle, but his attempted first-time shot is awful and he skies it over the bar. What a waste of a great, great chance for the hosts.
38' CHANCE! Vermaelen's header saved
The ball is worked well down the left again, and a wonderful cross into the centre is just nicked away from the lurking striker by Vermaelen! What an interception from the former Arsenal defender!
44' GOAL! Murcia 0-1 Barcelona (Paco Alcacer)
Alcacer breaks the deadlock just before half-time! The visitors stretch the pitch as wide as they can, before Deulofeu jinks inside and lofts a cross into the centre. Alcacer meets it well with his head, and it sails in at the near post with the keeper flat-footed!
52' GOAL! Murcia 0-2 Barcelona (Deulofeu)
What a goal by Deulofeu!! It's a superb individual effort! He jinks inside from the right and gets a little bit of luck as the ball breaks kindly for him, but he sweeps past another two defenders before sliding the ball through the goalkeeper's legs from a tight angle! He really has been the difference tonight! 2-0 Barcelona!
56' GOAL! Murcia 0-3 Barcelona (Jose Arnaiz)
Arnaiz makes it 3-0 with a thunderous strike! He cuts inside from the left and works half a yard from his marker before lashing a powerful effort from the edge of the box into the far corner with the outside of his boot! Now that's how to get your manager's attention! It was a little close to the keeper, but the sheer power took it past him before he could get a hand to it! Great strike!
71' SAVE! Murcia player's shot saved
CHANCE! How do the hosts not have one back! Elady does brilliantly to make the most of a raking diagonal and beats his full-back before firing the ball across goal from the byline. The man in the middle gets two or three stabs at it, but somehow, they all hit a sprawling Cillessen and eventually he makes one stick! That looked certain to go in from just a yard or two out!
Real Murcia XI: Santome, Escribano, Juanra, Orfila, Alex Ortiz, David Mateos, Nadjib, Jordan, Elady, Llorente, Molinero
Barcelona XI : Cillessen, Semedo, Mascherano, Vermaelen, Digne, Alena, Gomes, Denis, Deulofeu, Alcacer, Arnaiz
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